In a communication system, a call center is connectable via a communication line to a facsimile apparatus having a printing function. The facsimile apparatus reads ribbon-ID data of an ink ribbon mounted therein, and sends the read ribbon-ID data to the center device. The call center receives the ribbon-ID data from the facsimile apparatus, judges whether or not the ribbon-ID data is valid, and returns a result of the judgment to the facsimile apparatus.